Stella's First Photo Album

Having only just finally published my post about my natural childbirth experience, I don't have much else to add today. But, here is Stella's First Photo Album... 


I know I am her mother and all, but I have to say, she is one beautiful little girl. Her brother is in love with her as well, which is very nice. No real jealousy issues have cropped up... yet. But, Silas is a pretty chill kid, I don't think anything but normal sibling rivalry will ever crop up between them. 


Anyway, for anyone who is interested, here is a link to Stella's first photo album!

Stella Francesca 8.17.10

A Natural Birth Story

What a long strange trip its been. That is for sure. When I started this journey back in December, I had no idea what to expect, what it would be like. But I was determined to give it my best, to stay in shape and be fit for me and baby. 


My due date came and went and no baby. I went to the gym, took walks everyday, kept myself as active as possible trying to encourage baby to enter the world. 


Finally, at my 41 week appointment, my doctor and I decided it was finally time to induce and get the show on the road. I had so wanted to avoid an induction. I didn't want the pitocin, the contractions or the higher risk of a c-section that comes with it. 
I finally got to work in the afternoon... to everyone's shock and dismay...and told everyone I'd be out as of the next day. 


When I got home from work, Jake, my mother and I discussed our plan for the next day. My friend Jen was going to come over to watch Silas because our nanny had a doctor appointment.  We sat down and had dinner and then got all our stuff ready for the hospital. 


As I was wiping down the counters, I thought I felt a contraction. Hmmm... well, I had been feeling contractions and ligament pain for weeks and wasn't about to get excited now. 
My mom came into the kitchen and asked if I was OK... I looked at her and said, "I don't think we have to wait until tomorrow...". There was just something about this time that felt different, felt real.


By 11:00 I was sure. I was in labor. I finished washing my face, told Jake I was in labor, called my friend Jen to see if she would be able to come over in the middle of the night instead of the morning and got into bed to watch the North Shore (which was randomly on HBO and I was totally psyched to be distracted by a classic 80's surfing movie) for the long ride. 


Jake came to bed at 11:30 and I asked him to start timing my contractions. I felt like they were fairly close together, but if you have ever been in labor, even when they are 15 minutes apart, it feels like they are 5 minutes apart. 


But... they really were 5 minutes apart. At 12:30, I called my doctor. She told me I should head to the hospital right away since labor started at such an intense level.  
I called Jen, woke my mom, got up and got dressed. 


My husband, love him, ran a few red lights to try to make our trip a little faster. We didn't go flying through them or anything though, don't worry, we weren't a menace on the road:) The trip through the city was fun, as always. Maybe they leave potholes there just to make trips like mine more fun and interesting. I was in the back seat with my mom, holding onto the seat in front of me for dear life and to help my concentration in order to breathe through contractions. 


I was actually doing very well with that. I wasn't exactly what you would call calm... I kept saying again and again that I didn't think I could do it. But, when a contraction started, I was doing a fairly decent job on concentrating on breathing through the pain and moaning my exhale. 


1:15 am, we arrive at the hospital and head straight up to the triage. Well, my mom and I do, Jake has to go park the car. 


Now, you know what I don't understand, why, when you are in pain, about to have a baby, do they feel the need to ask you the same 80 questions again and again. I know they need to do their job and they need to ask certain questions, but is it necessary to ask the same questions again and again and again. I mean seriously people, I already told you 3 times that there is no history of cancer in my family... and what exactly does this have to do with birthing a child?


Finally we get to the room. It is now probably about 2:00 am.


I was trying to find a comfortable position and just couldn't. I wanted to do this the all natural way, so there wasn't really much comfort to be found because you know, contractions, but still. 


I tried sitting on the edge of the bed, with my head resting against Jake's chest while holding his hands through contractions. That wasn't too bad. But, my mother kept saying, "why don't you lay down, why don't you lean back. Don't yell, don't make those noises, you need to breathe." I know she thought she was helping, but it was difficult to not yell at her to shut the hell up. I feel like I spent a lot of time yelling at her, and then apologizing for it because  I was breathing. That was how I was breathing through the pain. On the exhale, I was moaning out the contractions, kind of like in tennis. It was easy to lose my concentration and just start wimpering through the worst contractions. But Jake was really great. He'd gently rub my back with the hand I wasn't breaking and remind me to breathe out, when I breathed out, I was less tense. and if I was less tense, riding the contraction wave was much easier and a tad less painful. But of course, all of that is easier said than done when you are in the middle of the most difficult thing you have ever done in your life. 


I lay back finally... that didn't help. It made contractions worse and since my butt was sitting right on the metal bar where they can cut the bed in half if you use stir-ups, my butt was going numb. 


Come on hospital. Is there no way at all to make these beds a teensy bit more comfortable for us? Is it necessary to make things MORE painful during childbirth?


Finally, after much moving around and complaining, I found that if I sat up, towards the back of the bed, and leaned forward a bit during contractions, that was "best". I held onto my husband's hand and squeezed with each contraction as I tried to concentrate on breathing through the pain. I had to hold myself up on the other side with one hand. It tended to make my hand numb, but the relief between contractions was sometimes enough to shake out the tingly feeling. Unfortunately, it was never enough to stop the tingling sensation in my face that I had been feeling since about 12:30. I felt a bit like I was tripping or had just done a balloon at a Phish show...I wasn't quite sure what to make of the sensation. I kept telling people, my face is tingling, my face is tingling and they just said it was OK. I don't know if maybe I was tripping on the pain or if the baby was on a nerve or something, but it was a crazy sensation and didn't go away until the baby was born. 
It felt like hours that I was there, breathing through the contractions, but my doctor pretty much did not leave my side the whole time... which meant it wasn't hours since she was the on call doctor for her practice that day and there had to be other people there in labor. It was a very busy night on L&D. She knew I was going to go soon, and her calm presence and ability to bring me back to my focus was a huge help. 


Finally, I looked up, and told my doctor I couldn't do it anymore. I needed that baby out NOW!


But, I wasn't really ready to push, and at last check, was 9cm. I had been 5cm when I was admitted, and was dilating at a rate of 2cm every 20 min. Pretty damn fast and probably why the contractions were so intense.


The wonderful and fabulous Dr. Wong said, "OK, let me check you again. You were 9cm, if I break your water for you, you'll probably dilate that last centimeter and be able to push." 
She checked and said, "you're at 10. Do you want me to break your water?"


I could only nod. Hmm... that was a pleasant experience. There really are no words for what it feels like to have your center pulling in on you and then having someone basically shove a knitting needle into you and twist it around a bit... along with a couple of fingers. Awesome! Again please?


I felt a small trickle of water, and screamed. Having my water broken literally released the baby! It was like "whammy!" baby was all of a sudden pushing up against me ready to be born NOW! Which was good because I was really at the end of my pain tolerance rope. I was quickly losing any and all compsure--not that I had a lot going on at that point anyway.
I totally forgot how to push. I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't pull myself forward, I couldn't hold my legs up. Luckily, my husband and mom were there to help me out. They held my legs while I held myself up. 


One, two...and a half. With several screams and declarations of not being able to do it in between... I felt the head come out. The burning sensation I had felt was finally gone. Even though the baby technically wasn't born yet, just have the head out was such a relief, I literally fell backwards and sighed. Careful now because the shoulders were next. Small push...and baby came into the world. 


Congratulations, its a SCREECH from my mother. Which could only mean...
Its a GIRL!


3:25am, after 5 hours of labor and a mere 3 pushes. After experiencing the strangest sensations and pains and focus and love and fear and surety and doubt and confidence...my baby girl came into the world. Just as I had hoped. Drug and Intervention free. 


6lbs. 13 oz. and 20 in.


We discussed names. I asked him what he thought. What did he want to name her. He asked me what I wanted and I said simply, "You know what name I want, but you don't like it. Which name do you want?"


He looked at me with so much love and said, "Its really what you want? Then lets do it."


World, say hello to Stella Francesca. Francesca is in honor of my mother, who is not only an amazing mother who does so much for us, but is the best Nonna in the world. I had an amazing Nonna myself, so that is saying a lot.

It's been a little over a week now and I am still in amazement. Not only of my beautiful daughter, but of what I experienced. I just re-read what I wrote above about the experience, and it doesn't even come close to really describing it. Was I in pain? Hell yeah. Was it torture? Hell yeah. But, at the same time is was amazing. No pain. Surreal. Despite what I was screaming and saying at the time, if we ever decide to have a third child, I will definitely go all natural again. Next time, hopefully I'll be able to make it into the birthing center... Stella arrived one day too late for that, but it was ok. Labor was so quick, I wouldn't have had a chance to really appreciate all the perks of a birthing center room anyway!

Ergobaby Carrier Give-a-way!!!

Hey all you baby wearing Mama's out there! This Mama Rocks is giving away a FREE ErgoBaby Carrier!

Easily the BEST baby carrier on the market, it holds babies and toddlers of all sizes, from birth up to 40 lbs! Toddlers can be worn on your chest facing you, on your back and even on your hip!

Hop on over to This Mama Rocks to read her review of the ErgoBaby and to find out how to enter the give-a-way. Here is a link to the blog post, or click the button on the right of my page!

http://thismamablogrocks.blogspot.com/2010/08/ergobaby-carrier-review-and-giveaway.html 
Good luck!

Non-stress Test and Ultrasound

Now that I am officially past due, I went to the hospital today to take a non-stress test and have an ultrasound. 

I thought last night perhaps I was in labor, but it turned out to not be true. I woke up at 2am (my normal wake up time this week), definitely NOT in labor, just needing to go to the bathroom. And naturally, struggled to get back to sleep... I am still not convinced I ever did. and if I did, it wasn't good sleep because I tossed and turned and woke up a lot between going to the bathroom and my alarm going off at 6:20.

Anyway, the baby wasn't being super cooperative in allowing us to hear his or her heartbeat. It took some maneuvering, but we finally found a position for the monitor and me that allowed us to hear the heartbeat clearly. 

Since I had just walked several blocks to get to the hospital, the baby was also basically napping, so not much movement. It worried the nurse until I explained that usually, after I exercise or exert effort, it takes the baby awhile to wake up. So, she came over and zapped my belly (hence the baby) to wake it up. After that, it was the normal party going on. 

All was well with the baby's Heartbeat and movement. 

Next, to the ultrasound to make sure the baby's current home was copacetic. The ultrasound tech took some measurements and pictures. She assured me baby's head was average size and that the baby was 7 lbs give or take a few ounces. That was very reassuring to me because I was worried about the baby's size. Not only am I now past due, but everyone keeps telling me the second baby is usually bigger than the first... and Silas was 8 lbs 4 oz. So, hearing that the baby was 7lbs made me feel MUCH better! That knowledge will give me a little confidence when it comes to delivery knowing he or she isn't super large. 

I'll tell ya though, I am really getting uncomfortable now. I don't know how women allow themselves to go more than a week past due date (because they don't want to induce). I don't want to induce, but I will be screaming for it if I make it to my 41 wk appointments! The baby is so low, I can't stand up without having to urinate, and is putting a ton of pressure on my ligaments in my groin, causing lots of sudden painful spasms in the groin area. Of course, each time I feel one and bend over in breath sucking pain, someone looks at me all hopeful like, "was that a contraction?"

Hopefully, I don't make it to my 41 week appointments and don't end up having to take the second non-stress test. The baby may not be stressed, but Mama certainly is. Daily headaches, lack of sleep, aches and pains, non-labor contractions... and other things in life right now, are all colliding to create one miserable woman.  Holding a little baby in my arms would certainly make a lot of that go away... at least for a little while.

GroVia vs. GroBaby

I know every cloth diapering Mama has her favorites, and is rarely swayed to a different type of thinking. Still, after using the new GroVia shells and soaker pads for only a couple of weeks, I felt the need to post a review/comparison on the difference between GroBaby and GroVia. 

I have posted several blogs about how much I love GroBaby diapers, both the biosoakers and the cloth inserts. They are great, and remain great! Of course, it is nearly impossible to buy them anymore, but if you want to try cloth diapers and want a deal, go to Bumrite Diapers, where they still have some GroBaby in stock, having bought out the last of Natural Baby Co.'s supply. 

I have not tried a huge variety of cloth diapers. I tried gDiapers, mostly using the flushie inserts, but also using some microfiber cloth inserts. They were a failed experiment. We gave it almost 2 full years and even I finally ceased to believe they were awesome. I used a Bumgenius 3.0 AIO pocket for awhile... not a fan. It HAS to be washed after each use! I also tried a multitude of other covers. Some were OK, some stank. 

I had pretty much given up being environmentally friendly in the diaper department until I stumbled upon GroBaby. Then they became GroVia. Now, I have gone from a "sometimes I throw a cloth insert in the mix overnight for extra absorbency", to a full-on cloth diapering mama. But, I am the only one in the house who uses the cloth inserts, so it is mostly on the weekends only, but the biosoakers are more environmentally friendly than even the most eco-friendly sposie... so I still feel better about my diapering habits than say, the person who uses pampers. 

I digress. 

I received my new stash of GroVia shells and soaker pads from Bumrite Diapers (I ordered their "True Hybrid Package" which contained 6 shells, 18 soaker pads and 3 packages of biosoakers at an awesome price). I washed and washed and washed, trying to get those soaker pads ready for use as soon as possible. I washed and dried them 2x a day for 4 days. After 8 full cycles, I decided I could start using them...since they would only get better the more I used and washed them!

I thought GroBaby was awesome. Seriously, compared with the new GroVia soakers, GroBaby stinks! The first diaper I changed, I had to stop myself from automatically throwing the shell into the cloth diaper pail. I said, "wait... check it first, it may not be wet." Thanks to the new waterproof back on the GroVia soaker pads, you don't need to wash the shells after each and every use! 8 times out of 10, the shell isn't even remotely moist when I change the diaper. 1 out of the remaining 2, it is so mildly moist, I spray some odor remover and hang it in the sun... then it is ready for another use a couple of hours later! It is so great to cut down on laundry. Especially since I don't have and can't afford a stash of 30 shells! And now with our second's arrival imminent, being able to reuse shells is going to be key!

Have the biosoakers changed? Yes, they have. Again, for the better!!! The sticky tabs aren't impossible to remove from the shells anymore. They actually don't stick too great when you just lay them in, but once you take the diaper off, they are nice and stuck, but it doesn't require all your patience to get them off without leaving behind half the sticky residue! Plus, still awesomely absorbent. I admit to sometimes being a bad mother who totally forgets to change her 2 yr old's diaper. It is not on purpose. I say, "Silas, we need to change your diaper!", he, of course, screams, "No!" and runs away. Before I have a chance to get him, I turn to "do something else real quick", next thing I know, another hour has passed and it has now been almost four hours. eek! Leaks leaks leaks! Nope. Full diaper, no leaks. They really are super absorbent. My only complaint is that they are still pretty much impossible to open in order to flush the inner contents...so I don't bother. Since I can to compost (which we don't do because we don't have a place for a compost bin) or trash the outer portion, we just trash the whole thing. BUT, we put them in biodegradable Diaper Dekor diaper pail bags... so the whole thing is less likely to be chillin' in a landfill when my 10x great-grandchildren are having kids. 

And what about the shells? They are barely different. 1/2 higher rise, which for people like me who have really tall kids, is awesome! I have always had a rise problem with Silas, he is in the 90% percentile for height. The 1/2" goes a long way. And the Tuck-in Laundry tabs... awesome! Now I don't need to constantly detach all the shells from each other in the wash. They were difficult to figure out at first, but thanks to Angela at Bumrite diapers, who posted a little step-by-step "how to use the laundry tabs" on her website and facebook, including pictures, it is really easy. At first the Aplix was really really strong, making it actually difficult to pull apart with one hand when trying to change a diaper, but that has loosened up as well--in a good way. 

All in all, I can't believe they were able to take such an awesome product as GroBaby and make it 20x more awesome, but they did! I still love my GroBaby, and I use the soakers at night, on top of a biosoaker for my little wetter. It is the ONLY way I can avoid a leaky diaper at night. Of course, if I stopped letting Silas guzzle water right before bedtime, that would probably help too. 

Anyway, for anyone who is wondering if GroVia is worth the cost, worth reinvesting $$ into your cloth diaper stash, it totally is. The system is crazy easy to use, on the go, out of the house, or in it. The diapers are also nice and slim compared to most, so pants and stuff pull up easily over them and baby doesn't get that HUGE tushy look that many CD's offer. To offset the cost of buying all these diapers... I sold all my old gDiapers! Sure, I didn't make back all I had spent on the g's originally, but I made enough to cover the costs for my new GroBaby and GroVia stash...

D-Day and no B A B Y...yet

Well, today is my due date. And yet, I am sitting here on my stability ball in my office, definitely not in labor. 

I know I know. You can't rush these things. But, the heat is oppressive, exercise is beginning to get uncomfortable and each day seems to take a week at this point. I really want to meet this baby. I want to know if it is a boy or a girl. I want to hold the little one in my arms and marvel at his or her beauty. I want to know if I can convince my husband to use the name I want for a girl... if it is indeed a girl:) OK... the last one is totally selfish... but Stella is such a beautiful Italian name...and they are so far and few at this point. Plus, it is a name from nature. 

Anyway, went to the doc today for my 40 wk appt. She said it was, "looking good". I was 2cm dilated, still about 50% effaced, but softer and more "pliable". The baby was really easy to reach, so very low. She "swept" a little to try and encourage some opening movement... but we'll see. It didn't hurt nearly as much as when she did the same thing when I had Silas. Either I have gotten tougher (doubtful) or she didn't do it as much. With Silas, I was in labor like 3 hours later... but every baby, every pregnancy, every delivery is different... 

I scheduled my non-stress test for Wednesday... maybe baby will take that as a hint. I know so many people who scheduled inductions and then went into labor hours or days before it. Maybe the baby won't know the difference between a NST and an induction? 

I scheduled my 41 weeks appt for next Monday... but the doctor was hopeful that I wouldn't need it. 

My mother came up last night, so she can try and either be there for delivery if possible, or be here to watch Silas if not. I really would like her to be there, so I have called a few friends asking favors--to see if they wouldn't mind coming over if we have to leave for the hospital at night, since our nanny would be there during the day. I have fabulous friends, we have people lined up through Wednesday night. After that, my mom will have to stay home with Silas... those are the only friends we have who don't currently work:)

My lovely colleagues just threw me an impromptu baby shower--which was very nice. Crumbs cupcakes... if you have never had one they are delicious treats, and a gift card to Baby Gap which will definitely NOT com amiss. That was a very nice way to spend part of the afternoon. 

So, I may not be able to post before baby comes... keeping my fingers crossed that indeed I will not be able to. But, who knows!!!

Either way, once this little one does arrive, I will be leaving a long descriptive post with pictures, and we'll find out if the experiment was successful. If indeed, I am able to follow through with all my training and hard work and succeed in having a drug and intervention free childbirth!

Operation Get Baby Born Already!

39 weeks and 3 days. My due date is Monday, this Monday, August 9th. I am big, bulky, starting to waddle, tired and ready for this baby!!!

Technically, we are totally not ready for this baby. Silas is still in the nursery because we only just finished removing all the basement stuff from his room last weekend. It was a very long weekend, but with my parents help, we got everything done. The back bedroom is now ready to be readied for Silas. What do I mean? I mean it is in its pre-basement construction state! Actually, better than that since we removed all the boxes and clothing bins from under the bed as well. 

It is definitely the best I could hope for before this baby is born seeing as I could go into labor any day now. Which is not happening which is very disappointing!!!

But, rooms not being ready doesn't worry me. Seriously. It'll take a couple of days to sort through all the clothes that belong to my husband and myself and either move them or get them out of Si's room-to-be. But, right now, my closet and drawers are still filled with maternity clothes, so technically, I don't have space for those clothes. Once baby is born and I can wear real clothes again, I'll be able to put the maternity clothes away thereby making space for my real clothes. Painting, one day, max. I know this because we did a LOT of painting when we bought the house. At most, we'll have to paint 1.5 rooms: if this baby is a girl, we will have to repaint the top half of the nursery which is currently blue, but since the bottom is brown, we can leave it. If the baby is a boy, we only have to paint Silas' new room which is currently just beige since it was only a guest room. Will it be annoying to have to do work on the house, again, while on leave? Yes, definitely, but it isn't nearly as much work as we had to do when I was on leave after Silas was born... so not too big a deal. 

But seriously, me, myself. I am so ready to not only not be pregnant, but to meet this baby! I want to know if it is a boy or a girl! I want to hold this little baby in my arms already! As the due date approaches, I get more and more nervous about my idea of natural childbirth, but deep down, I know I am ready and capable of it... I will just have to keep reminding myself of that when contractions start!

This week, I put into action Operation: Get baby born! It consists of several steps to try and "bring on labor" most of which only work part of the time and usually because you were probably ready to go into labor anyway, but still, I think it is worth the effort!

At my 39 week appt on Monday, doc said I was still only 1cm dilated but that baby was MUCH easier to reach, probably at -2 as opposed to +2 and I was probably about 50% effaced. Dilation can happen quickly once labor actually starts... so my job is to get labor to start. 

Operation: Get baby born consists of several lesser Operations. One of which is easy and I have no issues putting into action. One of which, while is strategically difficult, it at least (in general) is enjoyable to put into action. The last two... well... lets just say they aren't operations I want to put into action, but will if I have to. They are:
1. Operation Walk and Exercise a LOT: I have recommenced walking the mile home from the subway. At the gym on Tuesday, I ran for 2 miles, walked for 1 and did my strength training. I head back to the gym tonight for my weekly trainer appt. 
2. Operation Get it On: My husband is a big fan of this operation as he has at least 6 weeks of celibacy to look forward to after baby is born... might as well get it in now. Finding a comfortable way to enact this operation is usually challenging, but once accomplished... well... the rest of the operation is much more enjoyable. 
3. Operation Castor Oil: Not something I want to put into action. Knowing my luck, I will end up with 7 hours of awful diarrhea and no labor!
4. The last resort... which if I make it to my 40 week appt on Monday may just need to be done is Operation Strip the Membranes. I remember quite clearly how painful this was when my doctor did it when Silas was born. I do not want to have to go through it again if at all possible, so I am hoping my first two operations are successful sometime this weekend. 

All told, it would be awesome if I could go into labor tonight or by tomorrow morning. Jacob has off tomorrow but will have to go into work tomorrow night. Going into labor while he is home and not sleeping for his shift would be ideal...getting him up and alert is always a challenge and getting him home from work because I am in labor could be as well depending on the mood his boss is in. 

If anyone else out there in blogger land has any tips on how one might bring labor about naturally without drugs, I am all ears!

In the meantime, Operation Get Baby Born continues...

Bigger and Bigger

So, it has been quite awhile since I posted a new blog. No, I did not fall off the face of the earth, and yes, I am still pregnant!

My work computer blocks my access to blogs (all blogs) randomly and for different periods of time. Why blogs are considered "personal data storage" is beyond me. 

Anyway, I am 38 weeks and 2 days today! Eek!!! Although mentally and physically, I am totally ready to have this baby; our home is totally NOT ready! The bathroom project, since they screwed it up so bad, took over a month longer than it was supposed to. It should have been done mid-June...they finished last week!

Needless to say, we are still working on organizing it and putting things back where they belong. So, since the basement isn't fully together, neither is Silas' new room. Which is where we stored everything that was in the basement while the work was taking place. Since Silas' room isn't even ready to get ready, he is still in the nursery... which means the baby is homeless (or will be once he or she is here). But, we have a bassinet, so the baby will just sleep in our room for the first couple of weeks. My only goal now is to have Silas' new room ready to get ready for him before the baby comes. That is, have the basement in order and everything that should be stored in the basement there... so that the back bedroom is back to its "pre-construction" state. Then it will be a "simple" matter to get it ready for Silas. 

I was hoping for a somewhat relaxing maternity leave this time around; time at the beach, time in VT... yeah... that is obviously NOT going to happen. Last time, I spent my 12 weeks painting, packing, moving into our new house, and unpacking and organizing that new house. This time won't be much different except that it won't be a new house... just the current one. 

Anyway, I have kept up with exercise even if I haven't kept up with blogging about it. Still hitting the treadmill (no way am I going out in this heat and humidity to run outside) about 3x a week, and strength training 2x a week. Feeling good physically, if not entirely comfortable. And, if I do say so myself, I have remained rather small. I am pretty much all baby, as one stranger in the lunch place remarked: "It looks like someone just placed a pregnant belly on you! Your tiny!" and as a co-worker proclaimed only yesterday, "Wow! You're due in two weeks?! But you're so small! My sister in law just had a baby and she was HUGE!"

So, why oh why do some people feel the following statement isn't offensive, "Girl, you are getting bigger and bigger each day! That belly is growing so big!" OK, biatch. First of all, I have gained all of 1/2 lb in the last 3 weeks. Did it not occur to you that yesterday, I was wearing a bit tighter of a top and today I am wearing a flowy sundress... so I just appear to be bigger. And not only that, have some damn tact! Nobody, pregnant or not, wants to hear the words, "Wow, you are so big! You're getting bigger and bigger!" Seriously. I don't care if I am getting bigger because I have another human being growing in me. It is still rude. Especially since I have been exercising and eating healthy all in an effort to ONLY gain weight the baby NEEDS. I have gained 30 lbs. Saying it like that, I don't mind it so much. Really I don't. Even though I worked and slaved for months to LOSE 30 lbs prior to getting pregnant, it actually doesn't bother me hearing the words, 30 lbs. I know in order for this baby to be healthy, I need to gain weight. Plus, all my maternity clothes are a size 8 or 6...and they are a bit big on me. But, generalizing it by saying I am getting big? No, I am NOT getting big. I am growing a human being. There is a difference. 

Didn't your mom ever teach you, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all?"

My Review of Odor Remover

Originally submitted at Diapers.com

bumGenius Odor Remover

 

bumGenius odor remover quickly eliminates the source of odor-causing bacteria in cloth diapers. It is non-toxic, biodegradable and is completely free of chemicals, oils, detergents, perfumes and solvents. Use instead of deodorizing dis...

Odor Remover

Ridiculous price, great product

By New to Cloth from NY,NY on 6/25/2010

 

4out of 5

Pros: Easy to Use, Efficient

Best Uses: Diapers and diaper pail

Describe Yourself: Meticulous Cleaner

I would give this diaper odor spray 5 stars if it weren't so expensive for something that gets used up very quickly. For people who still have smells, I think this is designed to be used on wet and dirty diapers... not as a way to clean the smell OUT of them. I spray this on my sons organic cotton diapers, and the wet covers, before putting them in my diaper laundry bag. It helps to cut down on the smell while they are waiting to be laundered and I know will help avoid bacteria growth. Diapers should ALWAYS be washed on hot cycle to kill the bacteria that create smell. if you have stinky diapers after washing, lay them out in the sun!
They need to have a less expensive refill for this because having to buy these tiny bottles and them trash them (recycle them) after a couple of weeks isn't exactly very environmentally friendly...and the price isn't wallet friendly. Otherwise, really works great!

(legalese)

Cloth wins...hands down.

Since I have found a cloth/hybrid diaper that I really like and that really works, I have been very happy with diapering my little man. Never even once reaching for the "easier" disposable or wishing I had one on hand.
I love my GroBaby diapers. They never frustrate or disappoint me at how awesome they are. I have even begun to really like using the cloth inserts. With a flushable liner, even changing poopy diapers is super easy and not gross or icky at all. 

The problem came in, when GroBaby changed to GroVia. The changes they made to the diapers, actually seem like they are going to be awesome. Tuck-in tabs for the velcro so it won't come undone in the wash, 1/2 higher rise for those of us with tall babies, and a waterproof back to the organic cotton soaker pads. AWESOME!!!

Of course, since I had just spent quite a bit of money buying GroBaby shells and soaker pads because they were on sale and GroVia wasn't, I probably won't be purchasing too many GroVia diapers anytime soon. We are on a tight budget and buying the GroBaby shells and soakers was already out of it... so... the newer more awesome diapers will have to wait *sigh*. 

No big deal. 

BUT... the biosoakers were not available for purchase at the same time as the other diapers were. The nanny and my husband used the biosoakers exclusively, while I used mostly cloth and the biosoakers when leaving the house or traveling. I only had 2 boxes of 50 GroBaby biosoakers and they were no longer available as everyone had sold out of them. eeekkk!!!

Needless to say, I ran out of GroBaby biosoakers before the GroVia biosoakers were available for sale. Which meant.... I had to go out and buy some disposable diapers. *Side note, GroVia biosoakers came in earlier than expected on Gro-via.com and so I am "patiently" awaiting my order to arrive sometime in the next few days*

I was too tired the night I realized there would be no diapers for the nanny the next day, so I sent Jacob out to CVS to pick up a pack of diapers. I didn't really care which brand as they were all equally bad for the environment and I didn't plan on using them on any permanent basis. He came home with one of the Huggies brand diapers--not the Pure & Natural ones we used before which weren't too bad I have to admit.

A couple of nights ago, I was talking to Jacob about cloth diapers and how I couldn't believe how easy they were and how much I liked them. He just said, "I like disposables." I didn't feel like getting into a discussion over which was better with him because I know he has made up his mind NOT to like the GroBaby diapers, whether the biosoakers or the cloth soaker pads... it wasn't an argument I was going to win, so it wasn't worth having.

The next night, I was putting Silas' diaper on before bed, and I noticed a rash up his back, near where the back of the diaper is, and in the creases of his legs, it was rubbed raw. I pointed it out to Jacob and said simply, "He got a rash from those Huggies diapers, and they rubbed his legs raw." Jacob looked at me, almost defeated and said, "Yeah, I noticed that too, but the rubbing could be from the swimmie diapers that were a little too small." In his voice, I heard the sound of defeat, the sound of giving in, the sound of, 'you were right, the other diapers are better but I am not going to admit it out loud, this is the best you'll get'.

I didn't want to gloat, so I didn't say anything like, "I told you so." I didn't say anything at all. I just smiled, and on the inside, was totally doing the Dance of Joy, Balki Bartokomous style.

Now, if I can just convince him of how awesome cloth diapers are... 

Baby steps... baby steps...

Buddhism for Mothers: A Book Review

I took a break from reading books about Natural Childbirth, and decided to pick up a book a bit about parenting. 

OK, I stumbled upon this book randomly when I was on Amazon.com buying the Calm Birth CD to practice my Calm Birth meditation methods. 

Buddhism for Mothers: a calm approach to caring for yourself and your children by Sarah Napthali, is not just for Buddhists or those interested in Buddhism. 

I am not a Buddhist. I took a Hinduism course in college, and found it very interesting. I know I know, they are NOT the same. But, they are more similar than say Buddhism and Catholicism. I have read a bit about Buddhism too. It is an intriguing religion. 

But, I have been very stressed out lately. Part of it is pregnancy hormones making it all worse, there is absolutely no denying that. But, outside forces are also working against me. I am an Aries. OK. I am passionate and I wear that passion right up front. I cry when I am angry, and once let loose, strong emotion is very hard to pull in for me. It can take hours before I am fit for society again. 

Stress effects pregnancy. Right now, I am so stressed out, and then to make it worse, stressed that all my stress is going to make this baby born tied up in knots! 

So, I signed up for Upliv, this stress management program from Johnson and Johnson. Need to be a bit more active on that:) But, I thought this book sounded like it could maybe help as well. 

I was not wrong. 

Buddhism for Mothers is not really about how to practice Buddhism. It is more, how the practices of Buddhism can help YOU! As I was reading it, I found myself saying over and over again, "wow, that is me!" or "wow! that is my husband" or "our relationship". And thinking again and again, "huh, that totally makes sense, and it would really help me in such and such situation which crops up again and again."

There is plenty in there for the actual Buddhist as well, but for those of us just looking for a little emotional support, and maybe some tools for practicing mindfulness, or anger management, or stress management... this is a great book. 

In fact, I have asked my husband to read it. While it may be called Buddhism for Mothers and is definitely steered towards addressing moms, I think anyone who has children, or deals with children regularly (teachers, nannies, grandparents, aunts, uncles, whatever!) can benefit from it as well. 

Bottom line... pick it up. It is a highly interesting read that just might help you achieve a bit of calm in your hectic life! 

oof!

Ouch! 

I think it is safe for me to say I have definitely hurt my ankle. I don't think it is serious, I am not a hypochondriac, but I took the risk of hitting the gym last night and now today, it continues to hurt. I have it wrapped, but even just walking was slightly painful. 

Last nights workout was both great and terrible. My Cardio session was awful. This was due to several factors. 
1. My ankle hurt--so running on the treadmill was a bit painful and I had to stop a couple of times to walk, but then walking causes me to feel crampy and tight in my abdomen...
2. It has been a while--In the last 3 weeks, I have managed to workout 3 times. Treadmill twice and running outside once. While normally that wouldn't have such a large effect on my overall fitness level, being pregnant, it really did. Our bodies change so quickly when we are pregnant, one week running can be easy and no problem, the next, it could be difficult. 
3. My Mind. My brain was totally somewhere else. Usually, when I run or hit the treadmill, I manage a good mindfulness of my being and my surroundings. Taking all of it and none of it in at once. Last night, I could NOT get that feeling. My mind was wandering all over the place. Mostly, to my basement which while it is coming along nicely, the workers are trying to rip me off at every turn and have done some things in an incredibly sloppy manner. 

The great part of my workout came after my crappy cardio session when I had my training with Alex. She really pumped it up and now that we are closer to the end, is working on the larger muscle groups and the core to really prepare my body for the end of pregnancy (i.e. carrying around an extra 25 lbs all in one concentrated area) and of course, labor and delivery. She definitely recognized I wasn't in top form though, which is nice because it takes the pressure off. 

Working out with Alex, I was finally able to get my mind out of my basement and into what I was doing because I really try to concentrate on each exercise to make sure I am doing it properly. Although Alex is there in our sessions to correct and guide me, I do these exercises more than just the once a week and she isn't there each time to make sure I am doing them right. So, it is really important to concentrate. 

That was definitely a good thing. Then, when I got home, I started inspecting the basement and noticed a ton of things they did the backwards, cheap and easy way. Granted, the basement and bathroom look about 1000x better than they did before. Don't get me wrong, and to be honest, most people probably wouldn't notice the things I did. No matter how much we fight it, we all become our mothers in some form some day--and inspecting and noticing the tiny things is definitely my mother coming out in me! Of course, I am so done with these guys and their thinking they are the only ones who know how something should be done, and quite frankly, their condescending attitude towards me because I am a woman (and yes... that is it. He speaks very differently to my husband), that I just want this done and I want them OUT of my house. 

Anyway... my body is in a bit of pain today, particularly in the core area thanks to the bridges and crunches I did last night (ouch!) and the standing pull ups that really worked out the backs of my thighs (ironically enough). 

But, in the end... I know this will all be worth it. My body is prepped and ready. Now I just need to start practicing my Calm Birth methods to get my mind in the game as well!

The Treadmill vs. The Great Outdoors

I love running. I never thought I would say that sentence, but there it is. Up until this past fall, I had never considered running as a form of exercise I would partake in. Of course, prior to last July, exercise was not really something I considered partaking in--so that just goes to show you how much and how quickly our perspectives can change.

What changed? Last fall, I discovered through some online friends of mine, the C25K Training Program. I started it a bit reluctantly, not sure if I would like it--but I was wrong. I loved it! I loved running!

When I decided to start the program, I didn't belong to a gym, so I ran in a cute little park down the street from our house. It isn't a big park, one loop is about or a little over 1 mile, but there are some nice hills and stuff to keep it interesting--and always lots of good people watching:)

I got pregnant in November (though I didn't know this until mid-December), and basically stopped exercising for awhile because I was too tired to open my eyes more or less go out and run. Now, it was the middle of winter, so I joined a gym once I started getting my 2nd Trimester "Second wind". I used the treadmill at the gym and started a Strength Training program with a personal trainer as well. It has been great. I feel good, have been able to keep my pregnancy weight gain at a healthy level, and have been getting stronger and if possible, I think leaner as well.

At first, the treadmill was quite a challenge. I had heard that a "0" incline is basically like running downhill, so I always try to set it around 1.5-2.0 incline. The biggest challenge was facing the boredom of not going anywhere! I had good tunes on my iPod, but seriously, I am running in place smack in front of a mirror. Do I just run and watch myself for the next half hour or so? Do I watch other people? That would be kind of creepy if they caught me. I got in the habit of staring blankly at whatever necklace I was wearing (I wear "small, minimalistic" jewelry and don't usually take it off very often, even for sleep, so yes, I would be at the gym with some jewelry on), until my eyes kind of got out of focus. Similar to looking at one of those "Magic Eye" posters at the Dentist Office where if you stare at it long enough, you actually see the picture. 

("Wow. It's a schooner." 

  "Ha ha ha ha. You dumb bastard. It's not a schooner... it's a Sailboat."

  "A schooner IS a sailboat stupid head!)

Eventually, I got over the boredom and awkwardness of running on a treadmill and was able to run for quite awhile once I hit my stride. As my pregnancy has progressed, I haven't really been able to push it much past a half hour or so. While running, I feel like I could go on forever, it is when I stop that I get light headed and dizzy and need a good 10-15 minutes to recover... so I have given myself a strict 35 min treadmill limit because that seems to be the magic number.

Now that the weather is finally and consistently fairly gorgeous, I have been longing for the days of running in the park. The sunshine, the fresh air, the variety of scenery and of course, the people watching. So, after months of hibernation on a treadmill, I ventured outside last night for a run in the park for the first time since November. I have taken several good power walks in the park with Silas in the stroller, but I hadn't gone out for a run yet.

Well--let me just tell you--having now experienced both kinds of running for a significant period of time and NOT simultaneously, anyone who says there isn't much of a difference between the two is a big fat liar!

I was struggling! At some points, I was going along fine, and others it was like I had come up with a special torture just for myself.

I am sure that being 32 weeks pregnant, and not having really run much in the last two weeks (on a treadmill or otherwise) were also factors in the fact that I couldn't even run two laps without having to stop twice to walk. Technically, I stopped 3 times, but one time I stopped because I had to go to the bathroom:) But, I think the main part was that my body was NOT used to all those ups and downs anymore. I had been conditioned to run at the same level, same pace and after months of it, my body was all... what are you trying to do?! What happened to those ideal running conditions with no variation. Seriously, you want me to run up a hill right now?!

I had naively thought that running at a 1.5-2.0 incline (ok, mostly a 1.5) would keep me conditioned to the running "field" I was used to for the first 2-3 months of being a runner. Yeah--it isn't true. I think a 3.0 or 3.5 incline would have been more appropriate.

Obviously, there are benefits to both types of running, and I don't think it is fair for any person to say one is better than the other. One is better than the other only for each individual person. Naturally, just running itself is a huge benefit to you cardiovascularly, muscularly, mentally even. But, I personally, love running outdoors. The scenery changes before you, even if you are running in circles in a small park, and there are lots of people to watch in a park, which is always a good time. Fresh air never hurt anyone and neither does a little sunlight. Plus, I think the fact that outdoors isn't all one level the whole time gives the added benefits of making the course interesting, and keeps your HR going up and down, which is ideal for max cal burn. But, for cold, windy, rainy, snowy, icy, ultra humid days or whatever--the treadmill is great because it allows you to still get in a good run... without all the uncomfortableness of crappy weather.

Of course, another factor in why my run last night was kind of stinky, my left ankle is hurting. It isn't visibly swollen or bruised or anything, so I don't think it is a major injury of any sort; but it has been hurting on and off since last Monday when I hit the gym for the first time in a week. I think I might have strained it on the treadmill at some point and then running outside last night just sort of made it worse. I have it all wrapped up in an Ace bandage now, I figure better safe than sorry. 

Anyway, people are always debating which is better, the treadmill or the outdoors. I think it is "6 to one, half dozen to the other" (a favorite saying of my dad). This has been my experience with both, and if I had to choose one over the other as the only option for me... the Great Outdoors would win every time. But then again, I am just a little dirty crunchy hippie girl who longs for the great outdoors living in the concrete jungle. 

Its not rocket science

As anyone who reads my blog knows, I have fallen in love. In the form of Gro Baby diapers. They are easy to use, don't leak (unless you leave them on too long), are easy to clean, and look adorable. Silas has barely had even a hint of a diaper rash since I have started using these exclusively, which I also like. 

And yet, every day when I get home from work, there are several covers in my wet bag and several pairs of pants, that were clean that morning, in the hamper. The other night, Silas said, "uh oh, water spilled". We looked down and there was a small puddle of liquid by his feet, but he wasn't holding any water. Urine had literally fallen out of his diaper. It was seriously some kind of miracle, because his diaper was on properly (for all intents and purposes) and the shell was NOT wet! Seriously, it wasn't even damp. How the heck did it escape?!

I did notice, when I changed this miracle diaper, that the right edge was folded back so I could see the inner mesh part. Is that it? Is that why the nanny can't seem to NOT have a leak which each diaper change. Our nanny is not an idiot--who hires an idiot to watch their child anyway. She is a sweet, intelligent, fun young woman who Silas adores and who is great with Silas. She didn't have this many problems with gDiapers, and yet, the easier better diaper, she can't get the hang of. 

The biggest problem with this is not the constant laundry that piles up because I am washing his covers after one use and all the clothes he pees on. It is not that the covers won't last as long because they are being washed after each use. It is my husband and his sighing, growling, annoyance. He rarely even changes Silas' diapers; I do most of the laundry, I am always the one to wash the diapers. But anything that doesn't work perfectly from the start and constantly, he doesn't like anymore. For example, four years ago, I bought a paper towel holder. The kind you screw into your cabinets so it hangs down above your sink and doesn't take up precious counter space. When it gets to the end of a paper towel roll, it won't roll like it is supposed to. Is it kind of annoying that you need to manually move the roll so you can get a single sheet or more off? Yes. Is it the end of the world and a huge hassle? No. Yet, the other day, as he is manually moving the roll, he throws up his hands, gives an audible sigh and growl and angrily declares, "I hate that thing!" I look at him like he is an alien. Seriously? With all the other more serious crap going on in our life to get upset over, you get angry at the paper towel holder. Perhaps it is his way of allowing his feelings about other more serious things he is upset over be shown... ???

See, me, I don't care about those little things, and therefore, do not spend most of my day annoyed or angry because some silly little contraption isn't working right. I get upset and angry at the big things, like say, the Contractor coming back and saying, yet again, we need to buy more tile (this is especially annoying since they gave us the measurements and square footage requirements to begin with). I get upset and angry over that, and he tells me to calm down, its not a big deal. Really? The fact we need to drop yet another $100 is not a big deal, but the paper towel holder is something to get upset over? 

Thank God he doesn't even know I write this blog!!! I didn't keep it from him on purpose, I just didn't mention it--now I am thinking that was a good thing!

Anyway, so since neither he nor my nanny can seem to use a perfectly simple diaper, he is getting annoyed with them and every time he needs to change a diaper, he gets huffy. I personally, am done purchasing and stocking multiple types of diapers in the house. If he wants to use disposables, he can just go out and buy them himself, that is if he knows what size to get. 

Seriously though, it isn't rock science. I am not that much more intelligent than they are, so why can I manage to change his diapers all weekend without a single leak (except perhaps overnight), when they can't manage to avoid a leak with even a single diaper change? I have explained several times, you cannot leave these diapers on for four hours at a time (even though I have successfully done so, usually because we are out running errands and lose track of time). This morning, I gave the nanny a little tutorial explaining she should lay the front flat, and make sure it doesn't fold over, that the diaper will naturally fall into a comfortable place on him once he moves. She only has four shells to work with today because I can't get into my laundry room due to a huge sleeper sofa blocking the way... 

Has anyone else had these problems when trying to teach others how to use a cloth diaper system? Is it me? Or is it them? If its me, I will apologize to them... I swear I will... but I really don't think it is. Anyone have some advice on how to teach them how to properly use the diaper? I have shelled out a decent amount of money into this diaper system, and really like it. I want to use it on the new LO when he or she arrives, including more cloth diapers, I am not changing systems now!!

Calm Birth: A Book Review

As many of you know by now, if there is anyone out there who reads my blogs, I have been embarking on a mission to ready myself mentally and physically for natural childbirth. By "natural", I mean a no drugs, no medical intervention (unless necessary), vaginal birth. Eek!

Yeah yeah, plenty of women do it. That doesn't mean it is easy and anyone can do it!

I have been feeling very good lately about my decision to birth naturally though because of all the preparation I have been doing in the last several months. My workouts have been pushed to the side a bit lately, and I am not happy about that. But sometimes, life gets in the way! We are having our basement redone and by the time I get home, check out the days work, go over things with the worker, possibly go out and pick up things that need to be bought (paint, sink, vanity, medicine cabinet, etc.), there is no time for exercise. I went to the gym on Monday and hit the treadmill for the first time in over a week. It felt great... now my calves are killing me and I am walking around with permanent Charley horses. Sigh. The basement will be done by the end of the week and then life can resume its normal abnormalness. 

Luckily, nothing really gets in the way of reading since, I do that on my commute to and from work. So, even though I haven't been able to prepare much physically lately, I have still been able to continue my mental preparations. 

The most recent book I read is Calm Birth: New Method for Conscious Childbirth by Robert Newman.  

This book is hands down, one of the best I have read concerning a method for natural childbirth. As you know, I read and loved Your Best Birth, but that book was more about information than a method. 

I don't really think there is any best method out there, or one that is complete in and of itself and perfect for me. That is why I have read so many books. Calm Birth also is not perfect, but I have to say, it sounds pretty darn close to it.

I was a little leery of reading it to be honest. I have never been one to meditate. I love yoga, but for the exercise, not the spiritual aspects. In fact, if a yoga class or video gets into the chanting spiritual stuff, I stop going. From the title and description, I thought perhaps this book would be like a chanting, chakra based, touchy feely method of natural childbirth. And that is in there, but there is also technical and medical information about the benefits of meditation. Information on studies conducted by highly respected medical schools and institutes about meditation as a means of healing. In fact, there were pages and paragraphs that were so technical, I had to read them 2 or 3 times just to think I understood what they were talking about. 

But, it all made sense. Each bit of it. While the author did admit that he had heard of women who had given birth consciously, without drugs and painlessly, he did not say or even imply that his methods would provide a painless childbirth. What he did say, was that they would provide one with the tools to maintain the strength they needed to get past their fear of the pain, in order to embrace any pain as a tool to bringing your child into the world. And looked at that way, the pain doesn't seem so impossible to bear.  I like that they didn't make any promises, but really gave it to you straight.

The author included interviews with people who had successfully employed the Calm Birth techniques in childbirth. These interviews were great because they were from people who had practiced the methods at varying degrees. Some people started the methods only weeks before giving birth. Others were busy people, and admitted to only practicing a couple of times a week for a few months. Others, were gung ho and practiced several times a day every day. But in each case, they also told the reader how effective the methods were for them, what they were feeling, obstacles they faced, etc. This was more than just the author of a book saying, "try this and it will work."


One downfall is that the methods as they are provided in the book, are transcripts taken from a CD (Calm Birth:Empowering Preparation for Childbirth) which has to be purchased separately. You can read the transcripts and get an idea of how to practice the different meditation methods, but it is difficult to meditate when you need to glance down at a book to read the next step. Which means, you need to spend another $15-20 for the practice CD--if you really want to actually practice the methods. 


I will say this though, I have also read HypnoBirthing and Birthing from Within (reviews will be given later on these), and both also have CD's or classes which can be taken (the classes are incredibly expensive); but I bought the Calm Birth CD. It hasn't come in yet, I am eagerly awaiting it. I am excited to really try and learn these methods of meditation--which the author says can be used for things in life other than just pregnancy and childbirth. I have been very stressed out lately and by all resources, mediation is supposed to help with stress. So, it will be interesting for me to attempt to employ these methods in life and pregnancy... and hopefully childbirth as well. 


In the meantime, if you have been thinking about buying and reading Calm Birth, but have been leery because you are afraid it is too "mushy, touchy feely

How to Say 'No'

I don't get many comments on my blogs... but a did get a couple on my blog about taking back control of my life. 

Aside from saying, no, I also signed up for Upliv. It is a medication free program from Johnson & Johnson to help reduce stress in women. You have to subscribe and it is a monthly fee, but you can cancel at any time. I kind of figured even if money is one of the things causing a ton of stress in my life, $40/month wasn't so bad if it really worked and would help reduce my stress level. 

Anyway, I just signed up, so I checked out my first session today and the article was so closely related to my blog last week about saying no, I had to post it here for other to read. 

So, even though I managed to say No to several things last week... it wasn't easy and I actually needed other people's help in doing so and still felt guilty over doing it. I was happy to read this article which really outlined the difference between saying no for your own mental health, even if it inconveniences the requester, and being a jerk about it:)

So, if you feel like you need to start saying "No" more often, but are unsure about the first steps to take, here is a nice little article that kind of lets you know it is OK to do so... and some effective ways of saying "No" without ruining a friendship or business relationship. 

Assertiveness and Interpersonal Boundaries in Stress Reduction

GroBaby Love

I am in love. My previous issues have been resolved. I could not imagine a better diaper. 

For the last couple of weeks, I have been really breaking in the GroBaby diapers I blogged about before. My nanny has been using them and it has definitely been trial and error. We have had leaks, but normally they were caused by leaving the diaper on too long, not because of how the diaper was put on. 


GroBaby (now technically GroVia) diapers are so easy to use, I don't know why anyone would use regular old disposable diapers! They go on like a regular disposable, have leg gussets in the biosoaker to keep any mess contained, are comfortable for baby and unlike regular disposables, much more breathable. They are not nearly as bulky as other cloth or hybrid diapers (unless using a soaker pad and booster or a biosoaker and soaker/booster). Plus, they are too cute!!

I have also finally found a GroBaby solution to nighttime diapers. I tried just using a biosoaker. I tried just using a soaker pad. I tried a soaker pad plus a booster. I tried a biosoaker plus a cloth booster. Each one resulted in varying degrees of leaks from just a smidge, to OMG did I even put a diaper on him last night?!


The solution that has been working so far is a biosoaker with a regular soaker pad on top. I snap in the back of the soaker pad, and leave the front unsnapped. Two nights in a row, varying amounts of  "soak" in the am, and neither morning were there leaks. Yay!!!

My only complaint about the biosoaker is that it isn't the easiest thing to tear open to  flush and it really takes quite a bit of shaking to get the inner pulp out and into the toilet. gDiapers does have it on you there GroBaby--their flushies are super easy to tear open and empty, plus the outer portion is also flushable whereas with GroBaby, it needs to be trashed, so it kind of defeats the purpose of a flushie since part of it goes in the trash anyway. However, even if you trash part or the whole thing, they are still better than regular disposables in terms of biodegradability (did I just invent that word?)

Cloth diapering has been a completely new thing for me. I have not been using the soaker pads very much because, frankly, I don't change most of Silas' diapers and I am not going to make my husband or nanny be the experimenter. If I decide to go all cloth, they will learn then. But, I figured I owed it to them to be the first one to try out the whole cloth diapering thing. 

So far, I have not minded cloth diapering. Like I said, I haven't used them that often, but plan on doing it more so from now on. Several days ago I changed my first poopy cloth diaper. Luckily, I had the foresight of putting a flushable liner on top of the soaker pad. So, most of the poopy was easily cleaned up by simply removing the flushable liner and throwing it in the toilet. Some poopy did manage to make it onto the soaker pad and the shell though, so I did have to employ the diaper sprayer; but it was no worse than when poopy would get on the liners of the gDiapers. Then I threw both pieces in my wet bag until laundry day. No worries. Did it take a little more time than a disposable or biosoaker, sure. Was it a huge pain in the butt. Not at all. I am sure my nanny will be fine with experimenting and moving on to cloth diapers; hubby, probably not so much. He tends to not like to try new things, especially new things that aren't necessary or super easy from the get go. I am still just trying to get him away from disposables by showing him how easy biosoakers are... if I can at least get him on the biosoaker train, I can deal with him not being on the cloth train. Of course, if there are biosoakers in the house, I am sure the nanny will use those more than cloth, but at least either way, it is more eco-friendly than a pampers would be!

Of course, now that I am in love and am finally almost out of disposables, I cannot find anyone online who has GroBaby biosoakers in stock and GroVia biosoakers won't be available until July sometime. So, I need to find a way to make 40 diapers (all the biosoakers I have left) last until July... 


But, for anyone considering cloth or hybrid diapering... GroBaby/GroVia is definitely the way to go!!! I can't wait for the LO to arrive in August to start actually saving money by attempting to cloth diaper exclusively during maternity leave... well... OK, I'll use biosoakers when running errands or visiting family, but in general... CD only! Eek... I'll definitely have to blog about that when it happens!!!!